The WXCA studio has won first place in the competition for the Xylopolis Centre for Wood Art and Science in Hajnówka. Its ‘Gateway to the Forest’ is designed to encourage people to explore the forest, whilst the building itself will serve as an example of the potential uses of timber in architecture.
Xylopolis overlooking the forest
The architects drew inspiration from the landscape and natural environment of the Białowieża Forest. Instead of a building that dominates its surroundings, they proposed a light, pavilion-like structure with extensive glazing. From inside, visitors will be able to observe the forest, which will become an integral part of the centre’s visitor experience.
“We were keen to create a structure that blends organically into its surroundings. This tectonic, pavilion-like form opens out onto the forest, which serves as a living exhibit,” said Michał Czerwiński, associate partner at WXCA and co-author of the project.
The jury praised the building’s scale and its sensitive approach to the natural and cultural surroundings. The coherence of the architecture with the centre’s programme and the way the site is developed was also considered important.
The landscape park surrounding the centre
Visitors will be able to continue their tour of Xylopolis beyond the building. The terraces, squares and paths will provide space for activities and hands-on exploration of nature. The journey through the centre is intended to lead from an understanding of wood, its uses and cultural significance, to the experience of the forest itself. The designers have taken care to preserve the most valuable parts of the existing forest. The concept incorporates water retention within the development site and the protection of biodiversity. The development of the surrounding area is intended to support local ecosystems and facilitate a gradual transition from the building’s interior to the green landscape.
As Marta Sękulska-Wrońska, architect and partner at WXCA, emphasises, the forest is to be an active part of this place, rather than merely a view through a window.
Wood as a theme and building material
Visitors will be able to learn a great deal about wood simply by viewing the pavilion itself. Its distinctive timber structure will feature a regular, modular layout. The material to which the centre is dedicated will therefore be present in visitors’ everyday experience: in the details, the rhythm of the structural elements and the appearance of the interiors. Large glazed areas will open up the rooms to the surroundings, whilst the roofs will be covered in greenery. According to the designers, the building is also intended to highlight the potential of low-carbon, timber-based construction. In this way, the architecture will form part of Xylopolis’s educational programme.
An exhibition at Xylopolis inspired by the life of a tree
The centre’s main attraction will be an interactive exhibition based on the metaphor of a tree’s life cycle. Adjacent to this will be spaces for temporary exhibitions, workshops, a conference and auditorium hall, a media library and a café. There will be plenty of space for meetings and organising events. The various parts of the centre will be able to operate together or independently. This layout will make it easier to organise a range of activities, from visiting the exhibitions to workshops and conferences. Visitors will be able to step out from the interiors onto terraces and squares, and then follow paths towards the forest. This means that educational activities will not be confined to classrooms.
An expandable pavilion
The semi-open layout of the building offers freedom to arrange exhibitions and adapt the space to a changing programme. The modular design will allow the centre to be extended in the future whilst maintaining the principles of the original composition. The jury considered it important how the design encourages visitors to explore the site. The architecture, exhibitions and the area surrounding the pavilion are intended to support the same experience: a mindful exploration of wood and the environment from which it originates.
WXCA and design in harmony with nature
A similar approach to the landscape is evident in other WXCA projects. The studio’s materials reference the geological surroundings of Chęciny, Warsaw’s Pole Mokotowskie and the historic Ulrich Gardens. In each of these cases, an important stage of the design process was identifying the existing conditions and the intrinsic value of the site. In Hajnówka, too, the architects began with nature. The pavilion’s light form, its timber structure and the outdoor activities are intended to facilitate contact with the forest and encourage visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the processes taking place there.
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WXCA design team: Michał Czerwiński, Małgorzata Bonowicz, Andrzej Bulanda, Tomasz Czuban, Anna Dobek-Lenczewska, Gabriela Siljanoska, Mateusz Sokołowski, Michał Sokołowski, Szczepan Wroński.
In collaboration with:
TopoScape (landscape architecture): Justyna Dziedziejko, Magdalena Wnęk.
WSP Polska (structural consultancy): Krzysztof Bielazik and Aleksander Glegoła
Mukko Studio and Michał Sokołowski (visualisations)
See also: Wood | Interesting facts | Squares, Public Spaces, Parks | WXCA | whiteMAD on Instagram
